Chest pain and associated symptoms of acute coronary syndromes

The association between ethnicity and delay in seeking medical care for chest pain: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, and chest pain is one of the most common symptoms of ACSs. A rapid response to chest pain by patients and appropriate management by health professionals are vital to improve survival rates.People from different ethnic groups are likely to have different perceptions of chest pain, its severity and the need for urgent treatment. These differences in perception may contribute to differences in response to chests pain and precipitate unique coping strategies. Delay in seeking medical care for chest pain in the general population has been well documented; however, limited studies have focused on delay times within ethnic groups. There is little research to date as to whether ethnicity is associated with the time taken to seek medical care for chest pain. Consequently, addressing this gap in knowledge will play a crucial role in improving the health outcomes of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) patients suffering from chest pain and for developing appropriate clinical practice and public awareness for these populations.

OBJECTIVES

The current review aimed to determine if there is an association between ethnicity and delay in seeking medical care for chest pain among CALD populations.

INCLUSION CRITERIA TYPES OF PARTICIPANTS

Patients from different ethnic minority groups presenting to emergency departments (EDs) with chest pain.

TYPES OF EXPOSURE

The current review will examine studies that evaluate the association between ethnicity and delay in seeking medical care for chest pain among CALD populations.

TYPES OF STUDIES

The current review will consider quantitative studies including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non-RCTs, quasi-experimental, before and after studies, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, case-control studies and analytical cross-sectional studies.

OUTCOMES

The current review will consider studies that measure delay time as the main outcome. The time will be measured as the interval between the time of symptom onset and time to reach an ED.

SEARCH STRATEGY

A comprehensive search was undertaken for relevant published and unpublished studies written in English with no date restriction. All searches were conducted in October 2014. We searched the following databases: MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO, ProQuest (health databases only), Informit, Sociological Abstracts, Scopus and Web of Science. The search for unpublished studies included a wide range of 'gray literature' sources including national libraries, digital theses repositories and clinical trial registries. We also targeted specific health research, specialist cardiac, migrant health, and emergency medicine organizational websites and/or conferences. We also checked the reference lists of included studies and contacted authors when further details about reported data was required to make a decision about eligibility.

METHODOLOGICAL QUALITY

Papers selected for retrieval were assessed by two independent reviewers for methodological validity prior to being included in the review. Validity was assessed using standardized critical appraisal instruments from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Adjudication was produced by the third reviewer.

DATA EXTRACTION

Data were extracted from included articles by two independent reviewers using the standardized data extraction tool from the Joanna Briggs Institute.

DATA SYNTHESIS

The extracted data were synthesized into a narrative summary. Meta-analysis could not be performed due to the heterogeneity of study protocols and methods used to measure outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 10 studies, with a total of 1,511,382 participants, investigating the association between ethnicity and delay met the inclusion criteria. Delay times varied across ethnic groups, including Black, Hispanic, Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian and Chinese. Seven studies reported delay in hours and ranged from 1.90 to 3.10 h. Delay times were longer among CALD populations than the majority population. The other three studies reported delay time in categories of time (e.g. <1, <4 and <6 h) and found larger proportions of later presentations to the EDs among ethnic groups compared with the majority groups.

CONCLUSION

There is evidence of an association between ethnicity and time taken in seeking medical care for chest pain, with patients from some ethnic minorities (e.g. Black, Asian, Hispanic and South Asian) taking longer than those of the majority population. Health promotions and health campaigns focusing on these populations are indicated.

Symptoms Suggestive of Acute Coronary Syndrome: When Is Sex Important?

BACKGROUND

Studies have identified sex differences in symptoms of acute coronary syndrome (ACS); however, retrospective designs, abstraction of symptoms from medical records, and variations in assessment forms make it difficult to determine the clinical significance of sex differences.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to determine the influence of sex on the occurrence and distress of 13 symptoms for patients presenting to the emergency department for symptoms suggestive of ACS.

METHODS

A total of 1064 patients admitted to 5 emergency departments with symptoms triggering a cardiac evaluation were enrolled. Demographic and clinical variables, symptoms, comorbid conditions, and functional status were measured.

RESULTS

The sample was predominantly male (n = 664, 62.4%), white (n = 739, 69.5%), and married (n = 497, 46.9%). Women were significantly older than men (61.3 ± 14.6 vs 59.5 ± 13.6 years). Most patients were discharged with a non-ACS diagnosis (n = 590, 55.5%). Women with ACS were less likely to report chest pain as their chief complaint and to report more nausea (odds ratio [OR], 1.56; confidence interval [CI], 1.00-2.42), shoulder pain (OR, 1.76; CI, 1.13-2.73), and upper back pain (OR, 2.92; CI, 1.81-4.70). Women with ACS experienced more symptoms (6.1 vs 5.5; P = .026) compared with men. Men without ACS had less symptom distress compared with women.

CONCLUSIONS

Women and men evaluated for ACS reported similar rates of chest pain but differed on other classic symptoms. These findings suggest that women and men should be counseled that ACS is not always accompanied by chest pain and multiple symptoms may occur simultaneously.

Sex Differences in the Treatment and Outcome of Korean Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Using the Korean National Health Insurance Claims Database

Evidence showing higher acute myocardial infarction (AMI) mortality rates among female compared with male inpatients has stimulated interest in whether this disparity is the result of biological factors or differences in the provision of healthcare services. We investigated the impact of sex on in-hospital mortality rates due to AMI, and evaluated the contribution of differences in the delivery of optimal medical services for AMI.We retrospectively constructed a dataset of 85,329 new patients admitted to Korean hospitals with AMI between 2003 and 2007 from the Korea National Health Insurance Claims Database. We used the claims database to provide information about treatment after admission or death for each patient.Proportionally more female than male patients aged 65 years or older had complications; however, proportionally fewer female patients underwent invasive procedures. Female patients had a higher in-hospital mortality rate than males (21.2% vs 14.6%, odds ratio [OR] 1.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.52-1.64). The probability of death within 30 days after admission remained higher for females than males after adjusting for demographic characteristics and severity (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.04-1.13). After additionally adjusting for invasive and medical management, the probability of death within 30 days did not differ between males and females (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.99-1.08). A similar trend was revealed by an additional analysis of patients according to younger (<65 years) and older (≥65 years) age groups.The higher in-hospital mortality rates after AMI in Korean female patients was associated with a lower procedure rate. Evidence indicating that AMI symptoms differ according to sex highlights the need for health policies and public education programs that raise awareness of sex-related differences in early AMI symptoms to increase the incidence of appropriate early treatment in females.

Acute coronary syndrome

Implementation of the AHA/ACC standards for AMI is crucial for patient management and outcomes. The Centers for Medicare/Medicaid (CMS) has established indicators within the AMI core measure to ensure the evidence-based care is provided during the hospital stay. This core measure includes specific indicators that must be documented in the medical record. Refer to Box 2 for a list of the indicators. A recent announcement by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) stated the United States is declaring war on heart disease. Current costs for treating heart disease and stroke is estimated to be $1 out of every $6 in health care expenditures. This initiative is called the "Million Hearts Initiative." Ten states will receive $85 million in grants for the purpose of addressing chronic diseases targeting weight reduction, smoking cessation, control of lipids, and prevention of diabetes. Early recognition and early intervention for patients with ACS, followed by management of risk factors with secondary prevention strategies, are key to decreasing ACS-related mortality. Management of the ACS patient does not end with discharge from the hospital, but is continued throughout the patient's lifetime.

Gender differences on chest pain perception associated with acute myocardial infarction in Chinese patients: a questionnaire survey

AIMS

To investigate gender differences in chest pain perception among Chinese patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND

Thrombolytic therapy is beneficial to outcomes of acute myocardial infarction if administered within 12 hours from the onset of chest pain. However, cardiac symptom interpretation may impact time of presentation to hospital. Differences in cardiac symptom reports by gender partly explain misdiagnoses and delays in treatment, particularly among women. Whether, such trends apply to Chinese patients with myocardial infarction is unknown.

DESIGN

A descriptive prospective study.

METHODS

Using questionnaires, data on demographic variables, the number of patients reporting chest pain and other chest sensations at the onset of acute myocardial infarction and chest pain intensity, description, location and radiation across the chest were collected.

RESULTS

A total of 128 participants equally divided by gender were recruited. Chest pain was more prevalent among men than women (84.37% vs. 67.19%, p < 0.05). Although no statistical significance was found, Chinese men had higher mean chest pain intensity scores (7.54 SD 2.35 vs. 7.51 SD 2.25) and reported less atypical chest pain (0.00% vs. 9.3%) compared with women. Men had more upper right sided chest pain (40.74% vs. 20.93%, p = 0.038) whereas women experienced increased neck pain and pain to the upper central chest, middle central chest, upper central back, middle central back and middle right back regions.

CONCLUSIONS

Discreet gender differences in chest pain perceptions exist between Chinese men and women, with the latter group, who may be considered as a high-risk group for missed and delayed diagnosis from myocardial infarction, reporting more atypical presentations.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Irrespective of culture, women with myocardial infarction tend to present with atypical chest pain symptoms and therefore they should be aggressively investigated.

Differences in mortality in acute coronary syndrome symptom clusters

BACKGROUND

The timely and accurate identification of symptoms of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a challenge for patients and clinicians. It is unknown whether response times and clinical outcomes differ with specific symptoms. We sought to identify which ACS symptoms are related-symptom clusters-and to determine if sample characteristics, response times, and outcomes differ among symptom cluster groups.

METHODS

In a multisite randomized clinical trial, 3522 patients with known cardiovascular disease were followed up for 2 years. During follow-up, 331 (11%) had a confirmed ACS event. In this group, 8 presenting symptoms were analyzed using cluster analysis. Differences in symptom cluster group characteristics, delay times, and outcomes were examined.

RESULTS

The sample was predominantly male (67%), older (mean 67.8, S.D. 11.6 years), and white (90%). Four symptom clusters were identified: Classic ACS characterized by chest pain; Pain Symptoms (neck, throat, jaw, back, shoulder, arm pain); Stress Symptoms (shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, indigestion, dread, anxiety); and Diffuse Symptoms, with a low frequency of most symptoms. Those in the Diffuse Symptoms cluster tended to be older (P = .08) and the Pain Symptoms group was most likely to have a history of angina (P = .01). After adjusting for differences, the Diffuse Symptoms cluster demonstrated higher mortality at 2 years (17%) than the other 3 clusters (2%-5%, P < .001), although prehospital delay time did not differ significantly.

CONCLUSION

Most ACS symptoms occur in groups or clusters. Uncharacteristic symptom patterns may delay diagnosis and treatment by clinicians even when patients seek care rapidly. Knowledge of common symptom patterns may facilitate rapid identification of ACS.

Time trends in symptoms and prehospital delay time in women vs. men with myocardial infarction over a 15-year period. The Northern Sweden MONICA Study

BACKGROUND

Few studies have examined the time between onset of myocardial infarction (MI) symptoms and arrival at hospital (prehospital delay time) and symptoms in men vs. women.

AIMS

To describe prehospital delay time and symptoms in men vs. women with MI and to analyse trends over time and according to age.

METHODS

The Northern Sweden MONICA myocardial infarction registry, 1989-2003, included 5,072 men and 1,470 women with a confirmed MI.

RESULTS

Typical pain was present in 86% of the men and 81% of the women. The proportion with typical symptoms decreased over time for men and increased for women. Typical symptoms were more common among younger persons than older persons. Insufficiently reported symptoms was unchanged in men over time and decreased among women. Up to the age of 65, no gender differences were seen in the prehospital delay. In the oldest age group (65-74 years) time to hospital was longer than among the younger groups, especially among women.

CONCLUSION

There were no major gender differences in prehospital delay or type of symptoms. However, over time the proportion with typical symptoms decreased in men and increased in women. Older patients had longer prehospital delay and less typical symptoms.